Getting Risky

by | Nov 29, 2013 | Blog, Education

If you’re a football fan you know that in most cases if your on offense and it’s 4th and 9 it’s time to punt.  Or is it?  The other day I came across this video about the benefits and drawbacks of punting.  Take a look: To be honest, I’ve always preferred going for it on 4th down versus punting it away, which probably says something about my appetite for risk or my tendency toward optimism.  However, the story behind the story in the case of this coaching technique is that the school allowed the coach the freedom to take a risk in an otherwise written chapter in most football play books. Of course it’s helpful that the technique has worked out, but imagine the phone calls and emails that flooded the administrator’s office the first time they tried this and didn’t convert on 4th and 9 with their backs against the goal line…or in a playoff game.  Would you be so confident in your coaching staff to let them continue with their plan?  I’d like to think yes, but I have a tendency to lean towards risk. As a school leader this is a great look into a school’s willingness to accept and value risk taking.  Whether on the field or in the classroom do you promote or punish your community for taking risks?  At my school we’ve been moving our curriculum towards a style based on inquiry and student generated questions and interests.  Of course, this has been challenging in someways because like any change it causes us to move out of our comfort zone.  I think we’re...
Wanted: Authors, Designers, Producers, Engineers

Wanted: Authors, Designers, Producers, Engineers

by | Nov 10, 2013 | Blog

If you are one of the following please report to the classroom and continue reading: Last week I was given the chance to fly to Bangkok for the EARCOS Leadership Conference.  It was at this conference last year that I presided over a symposium of school heads to discuss their thoughts on leadership.  If you attended the symposium or have followed the blog you may know that it was designed to be the capstone on a year long journey of interviewing various school leaders from around the world.  Capturing this knowledge was the original purpose of this blog, and really mostly for my own selfish benefit.  In the process I took some steps to make the blog visually appealing, namely contracting a young Filipina web designer that I’ve actually never met in person (thanks Cat). As I traveled over to the conference this year I changed planes in Seoul, South Korea where I began to see some familiar international school faces.  In a brief conversation with a school head that I had never previously met, he asked whether I was that guy who started the blog, and mentioned enjoying reading it.  In reflection of this conversation I’ve seen how my simple quest for leadership knowledge in some small way has been helpful for others.  I mention this because although I never originally intended this site to be a product, in some ways it has become a way for others to learn more about education and leadership ideas around the world. Two weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting with Dr. Yong Zhao, author of World Class Learners: Educating...